Funeral  sermon... at  the  Inte 
ment  of  the  Rev.  Eiieha 
Mitchell, D.D. 

Chapman 


CoIUction  of  il3ort&  Carolmiana 
from  tfie  %ibtatv  of 


A 

FUNERAL  SERMON 

DELIYERED  IN  THE 

PRESBYTEKIAM  CeilMCH 

OF  ASIIEVILLE,  NORTH  CAROLINA, 

ON  THE  TENTH  OF  JULY,  1857, 

AT  THE  INTERMENT  OF  THE 

REV.  ELISIIA  MITCHELL,  D.  D. 

LATE    PROFESSOR    OF   CHEMISTRY,     ETC.,    IX    THE    UNIVERSITY    OF    THE  STATE. 

BY  THE 

REV.  ROBERT  HETT  CHAPMAN,  D.  D. 
PUBLISHED  BY  EEaUEST. 


ASHEVILLE,  N.  C. 
PRINTED  AT  THE  "SPECTATOR"  OFFICE. 
185T. 


AsHEViLLE,  July   20,  185t. 
Rev.  R.  H.  Chapman,  D.  D  :    Dear  ^i>— The  undersigned  members  of  your  congregation, 
m  behalf  of  the  numerous  auditory  present,  beg  leave  to  request  for  publication,  a  copy  of  your 
-•Sermon  upon  the  occasion  of  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Elisha  Mitchell.    They  are  induced  to  do 
so,  that  Its  lessons  of  solemn  warning  may  be  perpetuated,  and  that  its  consolations  may  be 
extended  to  the  family  and  friends  of  the  departed. 

If  it  will  not  be  trespassing  too  much  upon  your  time,  they  desirfe  you  to  prepare  a  brief  in- 
troduction, to  the  Sermon,  embodying  some  of  the  mournful  circumstances,  attending  the  death 
of  Dr.  Mitchell,  to  be  published  in  connexion.  Very  Respectfully, 

Z.  B.  VANCE, 
A.  T.SUMMEY, 
D.  SUMMBY. 


AsHEviLLE,  July  21, 185'r. 
(jENTLEMiEN  -The  semion  preached  at  the  interment  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Mitchell  was  very  has- 
tily prepared,  and  I  doubt  not  that  you,  and  those  you  represent  overrate  its  merits;  still  its 
lessons  are  Scriptural,  and  were  most  emphatically  enforced,  by  the  melancholy  event  that  had 
convened  us  together.  The  notes  I  used  on  that  occasion,  accompanied  by  a  brief  introduction, 
and  narrative,  prepared  stt  your  request,  I  herewith  enclose,  aud  place  at  your  disposal 

Truly  and  Faithfully  yours,  rOBT.  HETT  CHAPMAN,  ' 

To  Messrs.  Z.  B.  Vance,  A.  T.  Summby  and  D.  F.  Summby. 


INTRODUCTiON, 


Funeral  occasions,  in  this  ^Yorld  of  death,  are  too  common  to  make  much 
sensation,  or  to  attract  a  marked  notice,  except  they  be  attended  with  pecuUar 
circumstances  !  The  departed  must  have  been  one  of  gifted  powers — of 
high  endowments — of  wide  reputation  and  influence! — or  death  must  have 
made  his  advances  in  manner  marked,  and  under  circumstances  unusual, 
and  peculiar!  When  both — and  when  all  unite,  society's  great  heart  feels 
the  shock  to  its  centre — its  sympathies  are  awakened,  its  affections  are 
stirred, — its  reflections  are  aroused,  and  made  to  pass  fmm  Ir-earr^  to  heart, 
teaching  us,  that  we  are  but  shadows  as  regards  the  interests  of  time,  and 
yet  a  great  brotherhood  in  afi'ection,  sympathy  and  common  destiny — dying, 
and  yet  clothed  with  immortality  I  The  sad  event  and  attending  circum- 
stances which  gave  rise  to  the  hurried  thoughts  presented  in  the  ensuing 
discourse  have  passed  like  an  electric  shock  through  the  community  and  the 
"  State  !  The  Rev.  Elisha  Mitchell,  D.  D.,  the  man  of  science  and  Christiaa 
Teacher — the  lover  of  nature,  and  searcher  into  its  secret  arcana, — marking,. 
at  every  step,  tokens  of  the  goodness,  proofs  of  the  power,  and  wisdom  of 
the  great  Creator, — died  amid  its  solitudes — died  near  the  spot  where  years 
ago  he  said,  and  penned  the  sentiment  down,  "it  would  be  ^eet  to  die" — 
died  suddenly,  and  because  his  hour  had  come—died  with  the  flush  of  health 
upon  his  cheek,  and  manly  vigor  nerving  his  arm — died  in  the  fulness  of 
his  years,  and  strength,  without  disease,  and  with  all  of  life's  bounding  im- 
pulses stirring  within  him!  He  went  down  under  death's  arm  and  power,  as 
sometimes  goes  down  the  noble  ship,  her  timbers  all  sound — her  tapering 
spars  trimmed  and  set,  and  all  her  canvass  spread  to  the  breeze  !  The  sud- 
denness of  the  event,  and  the  startling  incidents  connected  therewith,  have: 
awakened  interest,  and  sent  thrills  of  sympathy  and  grief  through  many 
hearts  !  Strong  men  as  they  contemplated  his  corpse  calmly  reposing,  in  its 
rock  bound  basin,  and  laved  of  its  pure  and  crystal  waters,  were  constraine  <^ 


6 


to  tears  !  It  Tv'as  on  the  2Tili  of  June.  2J  o'clock  P.  M.  that  Dr.  Mitchell 
was  last  seen  in  life — at  that  hour,  he  parted  v/ith  his  son  Mr.  Charles 
A.  INIitehell,  intending  to  cross  the  mountains  to  the  settlement  on  Cany 
iliver,  there  to  spend  the  Sabbath,  and 'on  Monday  to  return.  He  went 
unattended — vras  impeded  by  fog,  and  a  heavy  shower — thus  belated,  twi- 
r.ght  came  on,  and  amid  its  obscurity,  clambering  around  the  precipice  at 
whose  base  they  found  him,  he  lost  his  foothold,  was  precipitated  from  that 
fearful  height,  and  died  alone  in  the  wilderness  ! 

His  trail  bore  marks  of  haste,  as  though  passed  by  one  in  a  hurry  and  be- 
hmdtime — the  place  from  which  he  fellwas  marked  for  its  displaced  stones — 
a  broken  laurel  at  which  he  had  doubtless  grasped,  and  for  the  disturbed  and 
ploughed  up  moss;  these  mute  witnesses  testify,  as  to  the  manner  of  his  death; 
the  time  is  settled  by  the  watch  on  his  person;  jarred  by  the  fall,  or  clogged 
by  the  waters  that  received  him,  it  stopped  at  20  minutes  past  eight;  in 
those  mountain  glens,  overshadowed  by  lofty  evergreens,  day  light  would 
be  well  nigh  past  at  the  hour  of  eight,  and  thus  doubtless  dim  ^w^ilight,  or 
darkness  contributed  to  his  danger,  and  brought  on  the  catastrophe  !  Ev- 
ery effort  in  the  power  of  man  was  sedulously,  and  patiently  made,  by  the 
men  of  the  mountains,  for  his  rescue,  while  they  w^ere  cheered  by  the  hope 
of  finding  him  alive;  and  when,  as  day  after  day  slowly  and  painfully  pass- 
ed, this  hope  ceased,  still  they  persisted  that  they  might  unravel  the  mys^ 
toy  of  his  death,  and  secure  to  his  remains  christian  burial!  On  the  sec^ 
end  Tuesday  night  after  the  catastrophe  occurred,  or  tenth  day,  his  re- 
mains were  found  at  the  foot  of  the  precipice  floating  in  the  waters  cold 
Olid  pure ! — not  a  bone  broken,  not  a  feature  disturbed,  neither  distortion 
nor  disfiguration;  but  he  lay  as  though  he  was  calmly  sleeping.  His  remains 
were  brought  to  Aslieville  attended  by  a  large  concourse  of  people,  and 
were  there  intered  side  by  side  w^ith  those  of  a  friend  and  acquaintance 
of  his  early  days — a  class  mate,  as  the  writer  understands,  of  Yale  College, 
the  Rev.  John  Dickson,  M.  D.  Dr.  Mitchell  was  connected  with  the  Uni- 
versity of  the  State  near  forty  years — was  born  August  1793 — graduated 
at  Yale  College  1815 — marrried  in  1819 — was  ordained  to  the  Christian 
Ministry  in  1821— and  died  June  1857. 

It  is  purposed  to  remove  his  remains  to  the  loftiest  peak  of  the  Black 
Mountain,  and  there  lay  them,  to  await  the  summons  of  the  Arch-Angell — - 
He  died  amid  those  mountain  wilds,  far  from  human  habitation,  and  there  it 
is  the  will  of  his  kindred  and  friends  that  his  remains  shall  rest;  there  the 
balsam  sends  forth  an  unceasing  fragrance;  there  the  firs,  and  mountain  pines 
and  leaping  waters,  voices  of  nature,  will  chant  for  him  a  perpetual 
dirge  I 


i^'iiiilillit' 


S  E  H  M  O  I¥ 


Man  knoweth  not  his  time  :    *     *    *  the  sons  op  hen  are   snared  in  an  evil   when  it 

FALLETH   SUDDENLY  UPON   TIIEM. — Eccl .  cliap.  9,  T.  12. 

"What  words  of  truth  are  these?  and  how  fearfully  have  they  been  realized 
in  the  incidents  which  have  convened  us  here  to-day!  The  doctrine  of  the 
Text  is,  that  there  is  a  dreadful  uncertainty  respecting  things  terrestial— 
that  trials,  and  changes,  and  death  are  our  heritage  here — that  in  our  calm- 
■est,  and  even  apparently  in  our  safest  hours,  we  are  but  short  sighted  and 
frail — all  exposed  and  in  peril;  and  know  not  what  a  day  may  bring  forth ! — 
Children  of  clay,  and  inhabiting  a  globe  of  graves,  we  are  in  peril  every  hour! 
It  is  true  the  Almighty  upholds  us,  and  we  are  in  His  hands!  His  Provi- 
dence is  over  us,  but  whether  it  shall  be  afflictive,  or  benignant — whether 
of  the  issues  of  Life,  or  of  Death  vre  cannot  tell !  The  future  is  all  before  us  j 
but  shadows,  clouds,  and  darkness  rest  upon  it  !  its  issues,  and  its  events  are 
alone  known  to  the  Infinite!  To  the  Christian,  and  in  his  conception,  there 
are  no  accidents — nothing  fortuitous — the  hand  of  God  is  in  it  all;  and  so 
it  is  in  point  of  fact  luitli  us  all;  v/hether  we  realize  it,  or  not — God  telieth 
off  your  days  and  mine,  and  those  of  the  entire  race! — as  an  hireling  we 
shall  each  accomplish  our  day,  and  then  pass  on  and  up  to  the  Judgment  of 
the  great  God!  Then  should  we  not  watch?  ought  we  not  to  be  ready?  lest 
suddenly  coming  He  find  us  sleeping! 

Man  knoweth  not  his  time!  but  certain  it  is,  that  here,  on  earth,  wherever 
found  he  is  all  incident  to  suffering — exposed  to  calamity  and  danger — the 
sure  victim  of  coming  dissolution,  aye  the  certain  trophy  of  Death!  His 
leaden  fingers  shall  be  laid  upon  you  and  me,  chilling  the  pulsations  of  life — 
His  arm  of  power  shall  be  by  us  felt,  breaking  the  golden  bowl  at  the  foun 


8 


taini — WG  shall  all  experience  Lis  wasting  infiaence,  clianging  tlie  countenance, 
and  bidding  us  pass  from  Earth  to  the  Spirit  Land  !  hut  when  these  trials 
shall  reach  us: — when  we  shall  each  in  our  lot  go  down  before  the  puissant 
arm  of  him,  who  breaks  the  sword  of  valor,  and  takes  the  diadem  from  the 
brow  of  kings — wdien  the  veil  shall  part  before  your  spirit's  eye  and 
mine,  and  the  gales  of  eternity  shall  freshen  upon  our  souls,  God  alone  knows! 
Sometimes  danger  and  death  show  themselves  in  the  distance,  and  with 
slow  and  steady  step  gradually  approach,  letting  us  know,  that  they  aim  at 
us  and  ours,  and  that  their  office  and  work  is  vrith  us;  at  other  times  they 
draw  nigh  with  stealthy  tread — -noiseless,  silent,  unperceived  they  gather 
round;  their  presence  is  but.recognized  in  their  attack— in  the  marks  of  their 
desolation— in  the  affixing  of  an  unchanging  seal  which  cannot  be  mistaken, 
and  which  can  neither  be  blotted  out,  or  broken!  all  may  be  quiet  without, 
and  calm  within;  and  there  be  no  sense  of  danger,  and  no  fear — but  Death 
is  there,  and  sudden  destrmstion;  the  veil  of  Eternity  sometimes  parts,  as  in 
the  twinkling  of  an  eye — and  the  the  soul  without  sign  or  token,  or  note 
of  w^arning,  is  in  the  spirit  land,  summoned  to  the  presence  of  God,  its  In** 
finite  Judge!  Ah,  Friends  !  the  text  is  true,  "Man  knoweth  not  his  time" — ■ 
the  sons  of  men  are  ofcentimes  snared  in  sudden  calamity;  there  is  an  aw-'^ 
ful,  a  fearful  uncertainty  as  to  what  is  before  us—when  we  shall  be 
called  on  to  lay  aside  these  vestments  of  mortality,  and  to  stand  before 
Jehovah  God  our  Judge  !  Then  is  it  not  wise? — w'ould  it  not  be  well  to  have 
,Our  preparation  work  well  and  early  done,  that  we  may  sta.id  ready,  and 
waiting  for  the  coming  of  the  Eon  of  Man?  '^Man  knoweth  not  his  Time- 
as  the  fish  are  taken  in  a  net,  as  the  birds  are  caught  in  the  snare,  so  are 
the  sons  of  men  snared  in  an  evil  when  it  falleth  suddenly  upon  them."  My 
Text  has  been  selected,  and  the  train  of  thought  just  indalgedin,  suggested, 
by  one  of  those  fearful  incidents  of  life  which  alike  startle  and  a,ppal !  Ti^ 
dings  of  them  fall  not  listlessly  on  human  ears,  they  fail  not  deeply,  and 
painfully  to  affect  human  hearts!  It  is  no  ordinary  death  scene  that  we 
chronicle;  nor  is  it  the  departure  from  the  scenes  of  time  of  any  ordinary 
^nan,  that  we  have  met  in  the  Sanctuary  to  meditate  upon !  Elisha 
Mitchell!  the  loved  and  venerated — the  astute  and  wise— the  man  of  God 
and  Christian  Minister,  lays  low  in  death  !  He  b  no  more  of  earth,  for 
iGod  hath  taken  him  up  to  the  scenes  of  the  spiritual,  and  caused  him  tq 
mingle  in  the  realities  of  the  eternal  world!  His  family  are  bereft  of  their 
Head — no  more  shall  he  guide  them  by  his  counsels,  nor  at  morning  and 
jevening  lead  their  devotions; — the  temple  of  Science  has  had  extinguished 
in  him  one  of  its  living  lights,  and  taken  down  and  removed  is  one  of  its 
stalwart  pillars!  the  Church  of  God  and  its  courts  have  in  him  lost  an  ad- 
vocate— a  judicious  counsellor,  and  prized  presbyter!  His  seat  at  the  family 


9 


table — in  the  hall  of  Science,  and  within  the  sanctuary  of  God,  have  alike 
been  vacated  by  the  sad  event  which  has  convened  us,  and  which  we  are 
endeavoring  spiritually  to  improve  !  His  agency  as  father,  friend,  instruc- 
tor, and  Christian  Minister  has  ceased;  a  ad  no  more  shall  we  enjoy  his  con- 
verse, weigh 'his  counsels,  or  go  with  him  up  to  the  House  of  God!  Ye 
recon  it  in  days  since  some  of  you  enjoyed  his  sunny  smile  and  kind  hear^ 
ted  converse,  and  communion!    AVhen  last  with  him,  aye  when  last  seen  of 
mortal  vision,  he  was  as  full  of  life — as  buoyant  with  hope,  and  had  as  bright 
promise  of  future  years  and  usefulness,  as  had  any  of  you,  or  your  race! 
but  he  is  not — His  summons  was  sudden — fearfully  sudden!    Yours  may  be 
as  sudden,  and  not  as  safe!    He  died  emphatically  .alone!    Neither  wife  or 
brother  or  son  or  friend  or  man  was  near!    Amid  mountain  fastnesses,  un- 
der laurel  shades,  and  with  the  unceasing  sound  of  moaning  pines  and  rush- 
ing waters,  furnishing  an  appropriate  requiem,   he  alone  and  without  hu- 
man aid  or  sympathy,  breathed  out  his  life.  Except  for  efforts  the  most  patient 
and  untiring  on  the  part  of  the  community,  his  death  as  to  its  place,  and 
means,  and  time  would  have  remained  a  mystery;  his  grave  would  have  been  un- 
known and  his  body  unsepultured.  There  is  something,  at  once  grand  and  fear- 
ful in  such  a  Death  !    Far  from  human  habitation— amid  the  solitude  of 
nature — her  works  there  on  the  grandest  scale — it  brings  up  those  mounts 
of  God  mentioned  in  the  Scripture,  .Pisgah   and  Nebo,  and  suggests  the 

death  scene  of  the  ''Ruler  of  His  people"  as  connected  therewith  Angels 

performed  the  dyin^  offices  of  the  one,  nor  is  it  vain  speculation  to  suppose 
that  in  needful  form  and  sympathy  thej  were  present  with  the  other;  this 
sure  word  of  God  informs  us  that  they  minister  to  the  heirs  of  Salvation! 

I  have  said  Dr.  Mitchel!  was  alone  in  his  Death — I  speak  of  earth  and  of 
man-— I  except  angelic  influences,  and  the  presence  of  his  covenant  God 
and  Savior  !  He  who  stamped  grandeur  on  those  mountains,  and  marked 
out  a  channel  for  those  pure  and  chrystal  waters  did  not  in  that  hour  desert 
His  servant  but  was  near  him  and  around  him  !  Do  I  say  too  much?  what 
says  the  Scripture?  *'as  the  mountains  are  round  about  Jerusalem,  so  Jeho- 
vah is  round  about  them  that  fear  Him" — What  says  God  himself?  "Fear 
not !  I  am  with  thee,  be  not  dismayed  !  1  will  never  leave  thee  nor  forsake 
thee!"  Tell  me  not  of  accidents!  Speak  not  to  me  of  second  causes! 
God's  hand  was  in  this  startling  event,  as  it  is  in  all  events.  He  designs  that 
we  should  feel  it,  and  lay  it  to  heart,  and  wisely  improve  it.  From  that 
mountain  side  and  seething  pool  where  they  found  him,  there  cometh  a  voice 
deep,  thrilling  and  loud,  addressing  itself  to  you,  and  me,  to  all  !  its  lan- 
guage is  "prepare  to  meet  thy  God!"  Who  can  fail  to  realize,  if  he  will 
throw  around  the  scene  one  lingering  thought,  that  amid  those  frowning 
precipices  and  impervious  shades  and  wildly  dashing  waters,  and  with  deatli 


10 


at  hand,  it  was  far  more  important  to  iiave  been  the  Humble  child  of  God^ 
the  devoted  follower  of  Christ,  than  to  have  been  the^man  of  gold,  or  of 
distinction  and  fame,  or  even  a  sceptered  king,  with  destitution  of  this 
Grace  L  Ah!  the  well  earned  fame,  the  distinctions,  of  our  departed  friend 
and  brother^  have  here  rio  power  in  imparting  joy  and  comfort  to  those  who 
loved  him  in  life,  and  to  whom  he  is  doubly  dear^in  death ! — their  hope, 
and  joy,  and  strong  consolation  is  based  in  the  simple  fact  that  Dr.  Mitchell 
laid  all  his  honors,  and  loved  to  lay  them,  at  the  feet  of  Christ  and  around  His 
Cross! — that  there  he  hung  his  hopes  of  Heaven — that  there  he  planted  his 
expectations  of  Life  Everlasting!  He  was  an  humble  child  of  God,  and  a 
Christian!  in  that  fact  there  is  comfortj,  joy,  strong  consolation!  When 
father,  or  mother,  or  child  or  brother,  or  friend  passes  from  earth,  let  me 
know  they  are  in  Heaven,  and  among  the  blood-bought  and  ransomed,  and  I 
cannot  unduly  grieve!  Who  would  call  them  back  from  their  rapt  scenes  of 
angelic  joy,  and  again  attach  the  chains  of  sense,  and  affix  the  stains  of  sin 
to  their  freed  and  pure  spirits? .  Earth  is  fleeting  and  mingled  are  its 
scenes — its  joys  are  at  best  but  transient!  there  is  no  treasure  worth  secure 
ing,  save  that  which  is  laid  up  in  Heaven  ! .  Moral  victories  are  alone  wor- 
thy the  effort,  and  the  energy  of  the  deathless  spirit  of  man  ! 

Man  knowethnot  his  time  and  the  sons  of  men  are  snared  in  an  evil  when 
it  coDaeth  suddenly  upon  them  I  This  is  Truth,  and  it  teaches  us  that  evil 
oftentimes  comes  upon  us  in  an  hour  when  we  least  expect  its  approach  ! — 
The  future  is  all  before  us,  and  we  must  meet  it — but  its  scenes  are  with  the 
Deity — an  impenetrable  veil  covers  it  from  your  vision  and  mine — we  tread 
at  best  but  a  darkened  path,  and  know  not  our  time  of  trial!  it  may  occur  in 
our  happiest  hours,  and  amid  scenes  of  gushing  joy!  the  cloud  may 
gather  and  loom  up,  and  burst  within  an  hour!  What  reverses  have  been 
witnessed  in  this  changing  world  between  the  rising  of  the  sun,  and  the 
lengthening  of  its  shadows  !  .  What,  as  in  the  present  instance  between  the 
going  down  of  that  orb  of  light,  and  the  breaking  of  the  day  !  Death  of- 
ten steals  on  dying  men  unheralded — -no  note  of  warning  precedes  his  ap- 
proach! Some  whilst  pressed  with  care,  engrossed  with  business,  and  all 
unprepared,  are  hurried  :  away — others  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  pleasure, 
and  with  no  sense  of  danger,  suddenly  feel  his  touch,  stilling  the  pulsations 
of  life,  and  bidding  them  up  to  the  Judgment !  -  Some  in  life's  morning 
and  in  the  hey  day  of  their  being,  and  as  they  fondly  fancy,  with  the  world 
'•^11  before  them!  Others  with  hoary  locks,  and  shortened  steps!  some  pre- 
pared, and  with  armor  on — with  loins  girt  about,  and  their  lamps  trimmed 
and  burning!  Others  amid  their  course  of  folly — the  love  of  sin  unslain, 
and  depravity  burning  its  deep  and  corroding  brand  within  the  &o\d  l  AM 
iii3  the  suddeauess  of  scemeslike  these — it  is  their  une:sp^ctedQess  to  the 


11 


individual,  ^'iiich  raakes  them  so  ^'wful  and  so  fearful !  Prepared  for  death— '  " 
girded  for  the  judgment,  and  clad  in  those  robes  of  righteousness,  which  alone 
can  bear  its  living  light;  a  sudden  death  is  not  to  be  deprecated — with  the 
loye  of  God  within  the  soul,  and  the  living  everlabting  Savior  at  hand,  a 
solitary  death  is  not  to  be  deplored!  but  unprovisioned  for  eternity  how 
fearful!  unprepared  for  the  solemn  intervievf  with  God,  which  must  then  en- 
sue, how  tremendously  awful  is  a  sudden  death!  Who  would  appear  before 
his  Maker  with  the  love  of  sin  uppermost  in  his  soul — who  would  thus  ap- 
pear, even  though  united  to  Christ;,  with  the"  world  clustering  around,  and 
clasping  the  affections  of  the  heart?  Not  so  !  Oh,  not  so,  would  he  that  is 
wise  die!  How  liglitly,  friends,  should  we  esteem  the  things  of  time,  and- 
what  priceless  valae  should  ^re  Eittach  to  fhe  interests  of  the  deathless 
soul  1  And  yet  poor  man!  in  his  blindness  and  sin  reverses  all  this  !  God 
stoops,  and  invites  us  to  his  arms,  and  to  his  heavenly  hom^ !  but  too  ma- 
ny busied  with  the  vanities  of  earth,  and  eager  in  its  pursuits,  slight  those 
rich  treasures  and  everlasting  joys— turn  away  from  theffe  offers  of  life,  and 
seek  an  heritage  for  time  ! 

Other  thoughts,  friends,  crowd  upon  me,  but  I  must  hasten !  I  trust  you 
see  and  feel  the  teachings  of  the  text,  enforced  as  they  are  by  the  fearful 
incident  which  hath  convened  us  together.  We  are  but  pilgrims  on  the  shores 
of  time  1  Sojourners  on  the  earth  as  were  our  Fathers!  Here  we  have  no 
abiding  place — passengers  at  best,  we  walk  in  darkness,  under  perils  and 
iii  great  suspense — the  future  is  all  hidden-— we  know  not  what  a  day  may 
bring  forth  1  J)6  you  esteem  the  picture  dark  and  gloomy?  and  ask  what 
can  be  done?  I  answer  trust  in  the  Lord  and  do  good  !  thus  may  you  fill 
up  your  lives  with  acts  of  usefulness,  and  deck  them  with  deeds  of  Christian 
Honor!  Thus  passing  away  piety  shall  give  you  the  tribute  of  tears;  and  the 
^osom  of  virtue  shall  send  forth  sighs  at  your  decease  !  Do  you  still  ask, 
as  to  what  can  be  done  ?  I  answer  make  Jehovah  God  in  Christ  your 
refuge,  and  trust,  and  then  it  shall  be  well  with  you,  well  with  your  soul!  "He 
that  dwellethin  the  secret  place  of  the  Most  High  shall  abide  under  the  shad- 
ow of  the  Almighty."  It  is  your  privilege  so  to  live,  and  so  to  bind  the  hopes 
of  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  to  the  heart,  that  you  may  dread  the  grave  as  lit- 
tle as  your  bed!  Here  is  the  Bible  of  God— the  great  moral  light  which  teach- 
es Jehovah's  will — presents  the  provisions  of  His  mercy;  with  its  truths  ren 
ceived — with  its  remedies  embraced— with  its  Savior  believed  in,  and  trus- 
ted on,  you  have  a  stay  which  shaU  avail  amid  the  conflicts  of  time — more  ! 
it  shall  cheer  you  as  you  go  down  under  the  power  of  Death's  arm — light- 
ing up  the  grave  and  dispelling  forever  all  its  fearful  shadows  !  Earth  is 
changing!  but  Heaven  is  stable  and  sure !  Fix  your  affections  there!  and 
noYT  from  that  solitary  place  in  tho  wildorness  where  my.  Brother  breathed  ^ 


1^2 


■■<!.nt  liis  life,  and  passed  from  earth;  aye  from  that  bier  an-which-now  lay 
his  mortal  remains,  there  oometh  a  voice  addressed  to  you,  to  me,  to  all 
present— and  yet  it  singles  us  out  and' addresses  us  each,  and  its  language 
i=,  '-Be  ye  also  ready  for  the  coming  -of  the  son  of  man  !  prepare  to  meet 
God!"  obey  this  voice,  and  your  death  -scene  ehal-l  be  peaeeful  as  are  angelic 
slumbers,  and  your  eterjiity  shall  be  passing  happy,  and  supremely  blissful  as 
of  the  riches  of  Jehovah's  grace  I  Thus  prepared  and  panoplied,  ^hen 
yen  come  to  walk  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  Death  you  shall  have 
ihe  rod  and  the  staff,  the  presence  of  Ilim,  who  is  the  Eessurrection,  and 

..:he  .Life.  ' 


00036704138 

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SEP  1  6  i9t 

CT  1  0  -5- 


LUNC-IOM  Ag  41 


